Syrian TV: 39 killed in campaign tent shelling

May 23, 2014
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In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, backers of Syrian President Bashar Assad hold his portraits and wave Syrian flags during a demonstration in support of his candidacy for presidential elections, in Damascus, Syria, Friday, May 23, 2014. / AP

by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

BEIRUT (AP) - Syrian state TV says the toll from a mortar attack on an election campaign tent packed with supporters of President Bashar Assad is 39 people killed and 205 wounded.

The TV showed pictures of Assad supporters in a tent in the southern city of Daraa dancing. It then showed people lying dead and wounded on the ground, including children. It was the first death toll provided by the government for the attack, which opposition activists earlier said killed 21.

The attack was the first to target a campaign event, heightening fears in government strongholds that rebels will escalate attacks in an attempt to disrupt the balloting scheduled to take place on June 3.